Bhagavad Gita 6.25 · Krishna
Little by little
शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया।
आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत्॥
śanaiḥ śanairuparamed buddhyā dhṛtigṛhītayāātmasaṃsthaṃ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcidapi cintayet
Little by little, become still, with understanding held steady. Settle the mind in the Self, and think of nothing else.
Words
- buddhi
What it means
Krishna's advice for meditation is gentle. Shanaih shanaih, little by little. Don't force it. Let buddhi, clear understanding, hold the mind with patient steadiness. Gradually settle the mind in the Self, until there's nothing else to chase. Stillness grows, it isn't grabbed.
The story
Arjuna is used to winning by force. Krishna tells him this is different. The mind can't be conquered like an enemy. It has to be gently brought home, again and again, like calming a frightened horse.
In your life
Picture someone learning to meditate who starts with two minutes a day and slowly reaches twenty. No rush. Begin with two minutes tonight. Little by little is how it works.
Little by little, the mind comes home.